Chandigarh: CBI on Thursday formally took over the probe into Haryana’s Rs 550 crore alleged financial fraud case related to IDFC First bank and AU Small Finance Bank after registering an FIR on Wednesday, and is likely to begin targeted searches at multiple locations.Coinciding with this was the surprise suspension of two IAS officers and transfer / reshuffle of 15 senior bureaucrats. There was nothing officially to link the administrative action to the scam, but sections of officials tried to join the dots.Sources in govt confirmed that the actions, including suspension of IAS officers Ram Kumar Singh (2012 batch) and Pardeep Kumar (2011 batch), were taken by chief minister Nayab Singh Saini shortly before the matter was to be formally handed over to the CBI.The FIR has been registered by EO-III wing of CBI Delhi under sections 13 (2), 13 (1) (a) of Prevention of Corruption Act and BNS sections 316 (5), 318 (4), 336 (3), 338, 340 (2) and 61 (2) for cheating, forgery, fraud, breach of trust, criminal conspiracy and related charges. An intimation regarding the registration of FIR has been sent to the special CBI judge Panchkula.The case pertains to fraudulent banking operations and fictitious transactions allegedly undertaken in a systematic manner to siphon off govt funds into the accounts of shell entities including Swastik Desh Project, SRR Planning Gurus Private Limited, Cam Co Fintech services, R S Traders and other associated firms/individuals, resulting in an estimated Rs 550 crore loss to the public exchequer.The matter was initially examined by state govt and referred to state vigilance and anti-corruption bureau Haryana on Feb 23, which registered an FIR, listing some officials of IDFC First and AU Small Finance banks as suspects.However, considering the magnitude and complexity of the case — including its inter-state ramifications, the possibility of transnational diversion of proceeds of crime, involvement of multiple entities and institutional integrity — Haryana govt sent the matter to the central agency.Jitters ran through sections of Haryana bureaucracy after state govt suspended IAS officers Ram Kumar Singh and Pardeep Kumar on Thursday, the same day as CBI officially took over the probe.Singh was serving as special secretary in revenue and disaster management department and as additional CEO of Panchkula Metropolitan Development Authority, while Kumar was posted as director of transport, Haryana, and special secretary in the transport department.The suspension orders, issued by the chief secretary, did not specify reasons, but it was viewed to be linked to the IDFC First Bank scam.In addition to these suspensions, govt late Wednesday reassigned senior IAS officer Saket Kumar from his position as additional principal secretary to the chief minister to the comparatively less prominent role of commissioner and secretary in the archives department. Several other IAS officers were also divested of key responsibilities.Another senior IAS officer, Pankaj Aggarwal, who recently drew attention for his role as returning officer in Rajya Sabha elections, was relieved of multiple important departments and appointed principal secretary to architecture department. Vineet Garg, chairman of Haryana State Pollution Control Board, was shifted as additional chief secretary in the printing and stationery department.In all, 15 IAS officers were transferred in the late-evening reshuffle. While there is no confirmed link between all the officers and the IDFC First Bank scam, some of the transfers are viewed to be connected to the case.
